Method and apparatus for launching seaplanes



G; F. MYERS Nov. 12, 1935.

' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING SEAPLANES Original Filed June l2, 1929 Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATE ME'rnon AND APPARATUS Foa LAUNonnvG sEAPLaNEs George Francis Myers, New York, N. Y.

`Application'. June 12, 1929, serial N0. 270,194 Renewed May 25, 1932 2s claims. (el. 244-2) This invention relates to flying machines, and particularly'to the art of. launching the same from the water.

It has -for its object, among others, to 4provide 5 a runway on the water for hydroaeroplanes and especially for ying boats so that the same may take oi with very heavy loads.

Other things being equal a landplane is lighter in weight than a sea plane and can get off the land much more easily with a heavy load, much of which is pay load. But for long trans-oceanic flights the land plane is a dangerous transport, for if it should have to alight on the water it is lost with all on board.

l5 On the other hand a flying boat can be built that will stand quite a rough sea in case of a forced landing, but due to the greater weight of the boat and its inability to get oifthe water easily.' it cannot carry a heavy pay load.

The amphibian would seem to be the solution of the problem, but here again we have the weight of the wheels, articulatedstruts and mechanism therefor and the service motor to drive the same when retracting, the sum total of which amounts to quite a great deal on very large vessels such as will be used in crossing the oceans, and by just that amount reducing the pay load.

A. track runway might be laid on the land and the flying boat placed on a wheeled truck for the takeoff; but this arrangement would have at least three grave disadvantages: In the first place the flying boat must be lifted off the water by means of cranes or the like, which is a costly and very delicate operation requiring time and skill espevcially in windy weather; or expensive ramps must be built. Then after the machine isv placed on the truck ready to start`it must take the wind into A account even though the trackis laidinto the prevailing wind; for there would be many days when it would encounter side winds and the track would be of little or no use. Also thel track being laid over the land if it should happen that the pilot should allow themachine to leave the track believing that everything was propitious for a takeoff, but should nd Out that he must land immediately, he would have to set the hull of the iiying boat down on the inhospitable land where it was not designed to alight and it would probably be damaged; but even if not damaged it would require much time and labor to reset the machine on the track again.

-But in the hereindescribed invention all of these disadvantages lare overcome by laying the track upon the water. IThe flying boat does not have to lbe lifted out of its element by extraneous means, but instead taxies up a runway. directly onto the track upheld by pontoons. If the wind changes even while the machine is poised on the track, the track can be turned so that the machine can take off right into the wind no mat- 5 ter from which direction it may blow. And if the pilot makes a mistake in his takeoff and has to land forthwith he can alight on the water where the machine was designed to land, and then quickly and easily turn around and start 10 over again.

The invention also consists iin certain other featur of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompany- 15 ing 'drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims. i l

Figure 1 illustrates an abbreviated plan view of the preferred embodiment of the invention, one of the possible changes of direction of the 20 track being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of part of the track and pontoons, and the main oat with its cross tracks and power trucks or 25 boosters.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3, the main float being cut away to show the turntable mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a cross section of Fig. 4 on the line 5 5. 30

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

'I'he invention is constructed and operated substantially and preferably as follows: I is .the main float or pontoon cylindrical in shape with a con- 35 ical bottom 2, held by the cable 3 and anchor 4 to the bottom 6 of a sheltered bay or the like. Fore and aft of this main float extend two tracks with rails 1f a long level portion or track 9 extending to a long distance in one direction; and 40 aninclined track i0 extending in the opposite direction toa much shorter distance. At the outer or further ends of these tracks the rails bend upwardas at Il. v

AA cable i4 holds the end of the track I0 down 45 below the surface of the water and runs over a pulley l5 on the anchor I and continues up parallel to the cable 3 to any convenient place on i, so that the cable may be shortened or lengthened to p ull down the end of lli or allow the same to 50 rise. A dollie or wheeled truck or cradle I2 isv held at the end of the'track l0 by Il below the water line i3.

Pontoons il with drains `i8 and air inlets I9 are'either fastened xedly to the rails 1 of the 65 tracks and I8 as at 2| or flexibly as with shackles as at 22.

'I'he main oat has a cross track 23 at right angles to the tracks 9 and I0, and where they intersect is located a turn table 24 onI wheels 25 running over a circular track 26. On track 22 are one or more power trucks or boosters 21 on wheels 28 and axles 23 driven by gearing 38 by engines 3|.

At one end of the said power trucks are chains 32 or the like with hooks 33, to be used when the said trucks are used as tractors for the dollie I2; at the other end are push rods 34 when the same are used as pushers. On the dollie are eyes 36 when trailing the said trucks and bumpers when they are being pushed over the tracks ahead of the said trucks. yAt 38 are strengtheners or braces.

The cylindrical `portion of the main float is used both as a storehouse for material, and for living quarters for the personnel. Persons enter this compartment through the hatchway as at 4| and down the ladder 42. The fuel tanks 40 have pipes 43 leading therefrom with suitable valves, to which flexible hose may extend to service the ship when the same is` on the dollie and the power trucks are getting ready for action.

Two neon lights or the like are placed at each end of the main float fore and aft; and are hinged thereto so that the dollie and trucks can ride over the same when not in use.

The dollie is made wider in front than in the rear as shown at 45 so that the hull of the ship can the more easily find its way into the same; and the sides of the dollie as shown at 48 are rounded off as at 41 so that by no means can the hull strike a rough or pointed portion and be damaged. The wheels of the dollie are also covered and out of the way of doing any harm to the hull.

A wooden cat-walk or runway 48 is laid over certain pontoons at the outer end on the long track 9 between the rails. N

One or more of the smaller pontoons have engines 51 and water propellers 58 mounted thereon in order to swing the tracks 8 and I0 around the central portion or main float. An

extra dollie I2 is shown 'in Fig. 1 ready for a second ship while the first dollie is carrying the first ship down the track.

A cord 68 is attached to the smaller end of the dollie as at 36 and ties at 6| on the main float by means of which the position of the dollie on the inclined track' I8 can be regulated longitudinally and therefore vertically. As shown at 50 the pontoons may be connected by chains for greater safety if desired.

'I'he pilot of the flying boat steers his ship straight for the center of the main float (which is the nearest portion that shows above the water line) and soon feels that the bottom of the hull of his boat has settled in the soft or yielding ing the ship. He then driv the truck up against the dollie the'two push bars shackling into the portions 36 in any well known vor convenient manner. 'Ihe second power truck now moves into a position directly behind the first truck, the operator sitting in the seat 5| and having control of all of the motors 3| on the two trucks.

-The truck operator now gives the signal and 5 both he and and the pilot on the ship start their motors getting into full throttle quickly and race down the track 9; the pilots several motors being supplemented by an equal or even greater amount of power on the trucks. In a comparatively short 10 time the takeoff speed of the boat is reached and the pilot gets into the air by rocking the boat on the dollie in substantially the same manner that he would rock the same were he on the water.

The boat will be equipped with a retractable 15 resilient rear wheeled skid which when lowered by the controls will run along the planked portion 48 of the track 3 forming a runway therefor. The fuselage or rear portion of the boat will drop between the rows of engines which are placed far 20 enough apart to allow of this.

The trucks and dollie then stop and go back to their respective places after being disengaged one from the other.

Instead of pushing the dollie with its load as 25 shown in Fig. 3, the two power trucks can pull the same as shown in Fig. 1. In this case the trucks are made ready so that as soon as the ship runs up the track I0 the two trucks are shackled to the same by the hooks 33 on chains 30 32 registering in -the eye 36 on the dollie. Otherwise the preliminary run or takeoff is substantially the same as above described; although any other convenient way may be used t0 take off.

At night and especially in gray, dull, foggy, or 35 muggy weather the neon lights 44 are erected and lit, and the pilot steers his ship onto the dollie by these, as they cover one another when seen from the front. As soon as the ship is berthed on the dollie these lights may be extinguished and 40.

laid dat on the deck of the main float.

In very heavy weather, as during a storm, (although of course the device will be anchored in as secluded and sheltered a spot as possible) hatches may be provided large enough not only 45 to house persons, but even the trucks; and as soon as the decks are cleared the tracks are allowed to swing into the wind.

When it is desired to swing the tracks into the wind coming from a different direction, one or 50 more motor boats or the like may be employed to carry the l'ong end of the device to the new position, but ordinarily engines 51 housed in one or more of the smaller pontoons will drive marine screws 58 and'turn the tracks into the correct 55 position and keep it there if necessary.

If the pilot signals the operator on the ma'in float that he is coming in with a heavy load, the operator allows the dollie to lie at the outer end of the track 3 as shown in Fig. 2 as the boat 60 will then" be drawing more water and sink deeper therein. Of course the outer end of the track being inclined the dollie will be much below the surface of the water and the bottom of the hull of the boat also being much below the water 65 line will slide upon the dollie when in that o utboard position. But if the pilot signals that he has a very light load the dollie is .drawn up the incline, by the cord 68 and made fast at 6|, to the proper position thereon. After the boat is 70 berthed on the dollie the trucks are fastened thereto and the cord unhooked therefrom.

As the invention is in some of its aspects generic, I do not limit myself to the particular construction shown and described, but also contemplate the employment of such equivalents as fairly fall within the scope of the claims.

In this connection it may be added that if the hydroaeroplane be of the double pontoon type double tracks may be laid. Passengers, mail, express and fuel may be taken on the ship either before it runs 'up on the track, or when it is thereon. The cable 3 and anchor 4 may be replaced by a more solid structure. The ship may take off from the vtrack or ru'nway in any other Way than by rocking on the dollie; and the iioor of the dollie may be constructed in such a manner that it pitches or is at an angle to the horizon, instead of being parallel thereto as shown; and the said oor 62 may be made hard, or soft, yielding or resilient.- In case the power plant of the seaplane should give out, the cord 60 could be attached to the truck 21 and draw up the same.

Therefore it will be understood that various changes may be made'in the form, proportion, size and detail of the several structures shown, the number and position of certain `elements used, as well as the character of the motive power employed, without departing from the vspirit of the invention.

I claim;

1. The method of taking off-by a hydroaeroplane, which consists in driving the hydroaeroplane at suilicient speed on a track carried by the water, and while at such speed rocking the machine longitudinally to produce through such rocking action an aeroplane lifting eiect of suiiicient magnitude to lift the machine free from the track into the air, and `support the entire weight of the machine therein.

2. The method of taking on by a hydroaeroplane which consists in driving th'e hydroaeroplane machine at sucient speed by its own -motive power supplemented by exterior auxiliary motive power on a track carried by the water, and while at such speed rocking the machine longitudinally to produce through such rocking action an aeroplane lifting eect of sufncient magnitude to lift the machine free from the track into the air, and support the entire weight of the machine therein.

3. The method of taking off a hydroaeroplane from the water to edect flight therefrom into the air, which consists in causing the hydroaeroplane machine `to taxi up an incline onto a level track laid on the surface of the water, driving the machine at suiiicient speed on the track, and while at such speed rocking the machine longitudinally to produce through such rocking action an aeroplane lifting effect of suiicient magnitude to lift `the machine free from the track into the air, and to support the entire weight of the machine therein.

4. The method of taking otI a hydroaeroplane from the water to eect iiight therefrom into the air, which consists in berthing the hydroaeroplane machine on a wheeled truck located on an vinclined runway, taxiing the machine up the 5. In combination with a iiexible oating track, of a xed pivot for the same, and means for turning the said track around the said pivot.

6. In combination with a takeoff device for hydroaeroplanes, of a track over which the hydroaeroplane is adapted to run under its own 5 power for a takeoi, and a plurality of supporting pontoons for the said track.

7. In combination with a takeoff device for hydroaeroplanes, of a flexible floating track, one portion of the said track being inclined and an- '10 other portion being level.

8. In combination with a takeoff device for hydroaeroplanes, of a flexible ii'oating track, one portion thereof being inclined and below water level and a longer portion being at water level, l5 and a wheeled truck adapted to hold the said hydroaeroplane and travel from end to end of the said track.-

9. In combination with a device `for launching a hydroaeroplane, of a large float. a plurality oi smaller oats, a track running in one direction over all of the said floats. a cross track on the said large 'oat, and a turn table at the intersection of the said tracks.

fl0. In combination with a device for launching a hydroaeroplane machine, of a .plurality of pontoons spaced apart, rails laid on said pontoons, and means permitting the tail skid of the machine to run along a smooth runway.

i1. In combination with a device for launching a hydroaeroplane machine, of a floating track, a truck for holding the said machine while running over the said track, and a booster truck for accelerating the speedl of the said ilrst mentioned truck.

12. In -combination with a device i'or launching a hydroaeroplane machine having its own power plant, comprising a truck on which the hydroaeroplane rests of an auxiliary booster power plant also on a truck on substantially the same 40 level as the said first mentioned truck so ar- "ranged that when the machine takes o by rocking, the said second mentioned truck and power plant is untouched by the machine.

13. In combination with a hydroaeroplane matrack, of a ixed pivot for thesame, and means permitting the turning of the said track around the said pivot.

16. In combination with a device i'or launching seaplanes, oi a track upheld by pontoons forming a flexible runway on the surface of the water for t0 seaplanes to' launch themselves lunder their own power.

I7. In combination with a device for launching seaplanes, of a plurality of pontoons spaced apart, rails laid on the said pontoons, anda smooth runway laid parallel to the said rails on which the rear portion of the seaplane may run.

18. In combination with a device for launching seaplanes, of a track laid on the surface oi' the water, part of the same being horizontal and part inclined and'dipping into the water, and a dollie normally lying below the water line on the said inclined portion and adapted to berth a seaplane and carry the same from below the waterline to the said horizontal portion of the said' track, 75

along the same, and nally permitting the machine to lift itself therefrom.

19. In combination with a device for launching seaplanes, of a dollie adapted to carry the seaplane from a floating position on the water to a takeoH position into the air, and a booster truck for accelerating the speed of the said dollie and mounted in substantially the same plane asv the same.

20. A method of launching a seaplane normally at rest on the water, consisting in running the machine up to and onto a dollie below waterline, climbing the plane by its own power up an ineline, and then running along a horizontal track above water-line till suiiicient speed is obtained to lift the plane off the dollie into the air.

21.` A method of.launching a seaplane resting normally on the water, consisting in making a water to take oil into the air as would ay landplane. I

22. In combination with a seaplane, of means for launching the same from rest on the surface of the water to ilight in the air, said means comprising a track laid along the surface oi the water.

23. In combination with a seaplane, of means for launching the same from substantially at rest on the surface of the water to 1ight into the air, the said means comprising a dollie nmning over a flexible track laid along the surface of the water, and a booster on substantially the same level with the said dollie to accelerate the speed 5 `for changing the location of the device.

25. -In combination with a device for launching seaplanes, of a track upheld by pontoons forming a flexible runway on the surface of the water for 15 seaplanes to launch themselves under their own power, and a motor and propeller on the said n. pontoons li'or changing the location of thedevice. landplane of the machine for the time being, and obtaining suiilcient lift therefor by a run over the 26. In combination with a seaplane. an incline reaching below sea. level and extending above the 20 same up which the seaplane travels, a track on the incline, a dollie, a booster truck, a platform extending beyond the incline and attached thereto and also provided with a track, and a turntable having a track thereon mounted on the gg platform in line with the incline over which the truck and the dollie run.

GEORGE FRANCIS MYER/S. 

